U.S. ending pursuit of illegal immigrants who commit minor crimes

mercurynews ^ | 12/21/2012 | Matt O'Brien/Contra Costa Times

[moonshinner_09]

Federal agents no longer will scoop up jailed illegal immigrants who had been picked up by police for traffic offenses and other petty crimes, the nation's top immigration enforcer announced Friday.

"We are changing who" we seek to detain and deport to focus more on serious criminals, said John Morton, the director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Morton changed the national policy just as sheriffs around the Bay Area were rethinking their cooperation with the controversial federal Secure Communities immigration program, out of concern that it was leading to deportation of too many minor offenders.

The shift responds to the frustrations of immigrant communities in places such as Contra Costa County, which has turned over to federal agents so many illegal immigrants that it is now among the top counties nationwide in sending people without criminal records to deportation.

[moonshinner_09]

After meeting for several weeks with Latino community activists, Livingston said he was looking for a balance that assuages the fears of law-abiding immigrant families ..Where do I sign up ?

[Mastador1]

That’s right, the democrats can’t be diminishing their voter base now can they?

[SIDENET]

Makes sense.

They need to gear up to go after gun owners.

[SandRat]

Not in Maricopa County, Arizona. We got SB-1070 and Sheriff Joe.

[The Toll]

Amrican you are being layed off and replaced by cheaper voters.

[FlingWingFlyer]

So, I guess being in this country illegally and probably using someone else’s identity is now considered a “minor crime”. Must be some of Barry’s “transformation” stuff.

[thoolou]

How about you throw them out for being ILLEGAL immigrants? Jeebus, Mexico has stronger I/I laws than we do. I’m sick of this s###!

[Navy Patriot]

Gee, if illegals get a free pass on crime, I'm sure it'll be ok when the crime victim is a government employee.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Instead, they will pursue US citizens who have committed minor crimes.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks moonshinner_09.

...jailed illegal immigrants who had been picked up by police for traffic offenses and other petty crimes...

IOW, pedophilia, rape, theft, robbery, breaking and entering, drug trafficking...

[iontheball]

It is just the latest in a nonstop destruction of our society. Everyday the onslaught continues. The country is totally out of control.

[GeronL]

Legalize even crime for the foreign invaders. Wow

[nomobs]

Will states be barred from enforcing the coming federal gun laws and will the Feds only peruse the violent crimes with guns.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

The “broken windows” theory, completely inverted.

[Graewoulf]

And so Alamo Two begins - - - .

[headstamp 2]

“U.S. ending pursuit of illegal immigrants who commit minor crimes”

We’ll wait until they commit major ones instead once they get some experience at it.

[husky ed]

It's illegal to own a gun if you've been arrested for DV. Which in most cases is a Misdemeanor.

So the Illegal Aliens do have more rights than most Americans.

ed

[pacpam]

CA has reduced so many felonies to misdemeanors in order to bypass 3 strikes, it stands to reason illegals never even experience justice under the law. Only citizens get that ‘right’.

[trebb]

I wonder when they will decide to not pursue LEGAL CITIZENS for the same offenses.

[lowbridge]

Bump